Bandwidth combination set fallback signalling

Abstract

A system and method for signaling fallback bandwidth combination set (BCS) values in a wireless communication network are disclosed. A user equipment (UE) transmits a capability message comprising a primary BCS value and at least one fallback BCS value to a base station. The fallback BCS signaling may be persistent or triggered based on network conditions, such as roaming or a lack of BCS support from the base station. The fallback BCS values may be transmitted within the same message as the primary BCS value or in a separate message, either as a second feature set or an independent message. This approach enhances carrier aggregation adaptability and ensures optimal network performance. The described techniques apply to cellular networks and other wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi multi-link operation (MLO).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for signaling carrier aggregation capabilities in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
 determining, by a UE, that a trigger condition for signaling one or more fallback bandwidth combination set (BCS) parameters is satisfied; and   responsive to determining that the trigger condition is satisfied, transmitting, by the UE, a primary capability message and a fallback capability message, wherein the primary capability message comprises one or more primary band combination capabilities and a primary BCS value, and wherein the fallback capability message comprises one or more fallback band combination capabilities and a fallback BCS value, the primary band combination capabilities being different than the fallback band combination capabilities and the primary BCS value being different than the fallback BCS value.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the primary BCS value indicates a highest-order BCS capability of the UE. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fallback capability message comprises one or more fallback BCS values that are lower than the primary BCS value. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger condition comprises a determination that the UE is roaming. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger condition comprises the UE receiving an indication that the base station does not support the highest-order BCS value. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger condition comprises the UE failing to receive a BCS indication from the base station. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fallback capability message is included in a feature set that is identical to the primary feature set except for the BCS value. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fallback capability message is transmitted as an independent message that is not associated with a feature set. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fallback BCS values are determined based on a decrement pattern relative to the primary BCS value. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fallback band combination capabilities comprise a reduced number of component carriers compared to the band combination capabilities associated with the primary BCS value. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fallback band combination capabilities comprise a different set of frequency bands than those associated with the primary BCS value. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the UE transmits multiple fallback capability messages, each corresponding to a different fallback BCS value. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fallback capability message comprises the primary and fallback BCS values within the same message. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fallback capability message is transmitted in a separate message from the primary BCS value. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the separate message comprises a first feature set message including the primary BCS value and a second message including the fallback BCS value without a feature set. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the separate message comprises a second feature set, wherein the second feature set comprises the fallback BCS value. 
     
     
         17 . A method for signaling carrier aggregation capabilities in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
 determining a maximum resource block baseband processing capability of the UE;   reporting a primary carrier aggregation capability having a first set of band combinations and a first bandwidth combination set (BCS) value; and   reporting at least one fallback carrier aggregation capability, wherein the at least one fallback carrier aggregation capability comprises a second BCS value, the second BCS value being different than the first bandwidth combination set value.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fallback capability message is included within the same feature set as the primary BCS value. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fallback capability message is transmitted as a separate message independent of feature sets. 
     
     
         20 . A system for or communicating with a wireless base station, the system comprising:
 one or more antennas; and   one or more computer processing components configured to perform operations comprising:
 transmitting, via the one or more antennas, a highest-order bandwidth combination set (BCS) value; 
 transmitting, via the one or more antennas, at least one band combination capability; and 
 transmitting, via the one or more antennas, a fallback BCS value, wherein the fallback BCS value is different than the primary BCS value.